R3 LEG 2 - Skaife makes amends while Tander stretches lead
9/4/2000 22:00 (Jason Whittaker) - Garth Tander scored his second Shell Championship Series round win of the year with overall victory in the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, while Mark Skaife scored valuable points and an inspired win from the back of the grid in today's rain-soaked second 250km race.
A third placing today, coupled with his seventh place yesterday, gave Tanderıs Valvoline Cummins teammate, Jason Bargwanna, second place overall and the Garry Rogers Holden team it's first Shell Series quinella.
Glenn Seton was third overall in his Tickford Ford, taking a second and seventh
placing on the weekend.
"Obviously I would have liked to have got a race win here, but I am leaving with a bunch of valuable points, the Shell Series lead and a straight car. I am very pleased with the weekend's work," said Tander.
Bargwanna and Tander were quick in the wet and the dry and their Holden's stood up well to the rigours of this event. Bargwanna was glad to be back with the big boys after a disappointing start to his 2000 season.
"Every team comes to each round looking to get a one-two finish, so for us to get it is a great result. In the first couple of rounds this year I have lost my rhythm a bit and made a few mistakes, but today I concentrated on the job and got it together," said Bargwanna.
"I will aim to do that from here on in and hopefully get more consistent podium finishes."
Seton's strong showing is just what the doctor ordered as grumblings were starting to make their way through the Ford ranks as his Ford Tickford Racing team had a shocking round at Barbagallo in March.
"I am really happy for what is a great result for me and the team. All I can say is FTR is back," said Seton.
A bumper crowd of 164,000 fans over the three day meeting saw the Tander-Bargwanna show, as well as the second HRT come-from-behind race win in as many years. Lowndes blew the fans away last year with Skaife cursed with wretched luck. In 2000 the roles were reversed.
Skaife's engine problems in Saturday's opening leg left him without points and at the back of the grid for today's stanza. An inspired drive, great tactics and a bit of luck saw him scythe his way through the field.
When the rain came pouring down, his team made a masterstroke to bring him
in for the second and final of his compulsory pitstops before the safety car was called out as conditions became deplorable.
When the rain eased and the safety car left the circuit, the other teams were forced to pit and Skaife's strategy and the safety car enabled him to muscle his way to second behind his teammate.
When Lowndes retired with a major oil leak on lap 63, Skaife was left to run to the flag for a most satisfying victory.
"That was the best drive of my career," said Skaife. "Obviously I'd rather not start from the back, but today worked out pretty well. The 1999 race cost me early, going away with so few points that I couldnıt make up, so to get the maximum points today after yesterdayıs disappointment is just great."
Skaife's points in from the second race allow him to maintain his second place in the Shell Series points while Tander's consistency has seen him open up a healthy lead.
Lowndes' non finish in first double points endurance event of the year has left him with a healthy gap to make up in his bid to win his fourth title.
Paul Radisich's luck was for the worse all weekend, his spirited challenge doused by an opening lap spin in his Shell Helix Ford. But the Kiwi battled on valiantly for valuable points and he sits third in the standings with his best to come.
His teammate, Steven Johnson, continues to impress since taking over from his famous father in the number 17 Falcon, and he sits an impressive sixth.
The Shell Championship series heads to Eastern Creek in the last weekend of April for round four.
**TOP 10**
1st MARK SKAIFE (Mobil-Holden Racing) - VT Commodore [160]
2nd GARTH TANDER (Team Valvoline-Cummins) - VT Commodore [144]
3rd JASON BARGWANNA (Team Valvoline-Cummins) - VT Commodore [132]
4th JOHN BOWE (CAT Racing) - AU Falcon [128]
5th GREG MURPHY (Kmart Racing) - VT Commodore [120]
6th RUSSELL INGALL (Castrol Perkins Racing) - VT Commodore [112]
7th GLENN SETON (Ford-Tickford Racing) - AU Falcon [104]
8th STEVEN JOHNSON (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon [96]
9th PAUL RADISICH (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon [88]
10th TONY LONGHURST (Caltex Havoline Racing) - AU Falcon [80]
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